Adjustable cam



C. W. BRYANT ADJUSTABLE CAM Oct. 30, 1951 2 SHEETSI-SHEET 1 Filed Nov. 29, 1946 Oct. 30, 1951 I c w, BRYANT 2,573,638

ADJUSTABLE CAM i v ewer,

Filed Nov. 29, 1346 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Patented Oct. 30, 1951 I PAT I ,..2,51 s,s3s--. f 3 AnJUs'rABLEtcA j Cr.win .W; Bryant, .D'owners -Giovc,1ll g assi'gnom to Crane :Co'.-, Chicago-,1 Ill-zgna corporation of ,1 Illinois, I. I Application November 29, 1946, sw m 712,777

" renal. (armsset, y

This invention relates to a novel adjustable cam extendeden'eek ibf theeam' hub Sinus-providin and more particularly,rmyjnvention pertains to a 'simiple and convenint means of increasing a simple actuating cam device featuring easy addecreasing he pitch -ofizthe helix-createdby:th

justability and is specially, suitable for use on camiplatell'i I a I I small machineryfinstrument controlsandthe like Thecam hub skis-unusual; It (shown-in ddttedwhere the load against a cam is either negligible linesh scu that it may be conveniently: mounted or where it is considered as not being excessive. ovenrtheishaft or:shank- (notshown)' and' subse- Heretofora onspecial geared equipment includquently be locked theretoi byflmea'ns of the seig ing operating indicating means,t small cams :h'avev screWiI'Zfors-other similarcmeans.

beenzindividuallyniade to suit-.the particular con- Theaforegoing description covers aprefer-redditions encountered, which were expensive: and; formz of theadjustable:cam assemblycr -un frequently difficult in effecting proper adjustment; Fignz'zshows a: .simple and practical application An important object of, this invention therefore: of the-novelassembly:- InJthelattenfigure -there is gtci provide-a relatively economical single cam? is sliown a: convention'a-l indicator"mechanism mechanismi'that can be conveniently adjusted 110.? 15 which isgenerally -used mconjunction with we suitthervarious requirements :arising in the'nor mote controlld and gear operatedmechanisms/ malr-coursepfcuse nequi ment-of the character" for-waives and the' l e of the type- -i11ustrated-in above; refesredxto. v p the-:Ci'aneCb; catalog No elonapage-l72; Mere- A further advantagaof vthi s.inv.ention lies in ly"torillustrate one applibatibm it sh'ould beexthe provision that the cam surface itself may be plained that the- 'cam l with its mounting pins t easily made from a single sheet of material and andifli an'd the cam' hubcollar together-with thenhfas'tenedio-its supportingand adjustable theeamrhub fi'gfiis attached by-meansofl the setmembers to complete the adjustable cam asscrew I2 to the axle or shaft IS. The latter memsembly or unit. 3 her in this case revolves approximately 270 de- Other advantages and objects of this invention grees upon rotation of the gear I8 which is actuwill become more readily apparent upon proated by the valve stem or a similar threaded shaft ceeding with the following specification read in 25 which is fragmen a ShOWnlight of the accompanying drawings in which: The shaft I3, to which the adjustable cam is Fig. 1 is an exterior assembly view of the novel fastened, is journally guided within the bearings cam unit. I6 and I! of the body or housing l9 by means of Fig. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a typical the bushing I4 at the upper outside end of the installation of the cam. bearing and by the attachment of the spur gear Fig. 3 is a view of a modified construction. I5 to the opposite or lower end of the shaft I3. Similar reference characters refer to similar The spur gear I5 is engaged in the conventional parts in the several views shown. manner by the worm gear 20 which rotates on a Referring now to the drawings, Fig. 1 shows an shaft (not shown) and upon which the gear I8 assembly view of the adjustable cam unit in which is also mounted. The reciprocating movement of the cam surface or track I comprises essentially the threaded stem or shaft 25 effects a rack enan annulus of resilient metal or plastic material gagement with the gear I8 rotating the latter which has been severed as illustrated. At the member- T S O O S transmitted thmllgh severed portions the two ends are aflixed to the t Worm 20 a h p gear I5 130 the Shaft l3 cam pin 3 and 4 preferably by brazing or other whereupon the adjustable cam I is caused to roconvenient means depending upon the ultimate tate. The longitudinal back and forth travel of service and the material of which the cam ring or the threaded stem or shaft 25 is thus reduced to annulus is constructed. The projecting cam pin the motion of rotation of the shaft I3 upon which 4, to which the lower end of the cam I is atthe cam I is fixed to angular travel of less than tached is fastened by means of a taper pin 5, 360 degrees. shown in dotted lines, to the cam hub 6 which Riding on the adjustable cam surface I is the has an extended stem or neck I over which the follower roller 2|, preferably fastened to the lever upper cam hub collar 8 is fitted. The cam pin 3 arm 24 by means of the pin 22. At this point, is fastened by means of a taper pin 9 to the cam it should of course be understood that fastened to hub collar 8, the pin being shown in dotted lines. the lever arm 24 may be various devices and pro- The cam hub collar 8 is provided with a set screw truding arms or levers (not shown) useful for I0 which is used to lock the cam hub collar 8 actuating switches, pressure indicating controls in any desired rotative or axial position upon the and the like, the amount of the actuating moveats't'a iiient of which is governed by the transverse move ulated, but also the throw or axial movement of the roller-2iand transverse movement-of the lever 24 in"relation ;thereto. a

Fig. 3 shows a modification of the above adjustable cam including a continuous strip of circular or polygonal cross-sectional material in the form simulating a coil spring 26, the advantage of this construction being that, a greatertransverse movement may be given to the lever arm A 24 beyond that to which the single coil of material was limited as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.

It should be understood that the modifiedcam upon the desired travel ofjthe lever bein actu- 4 shown and described. Therefore it is the desire that the scope of this invention be measured by the appended claim interpreted in light ,of the prior art.

Iclaim:

An adjustable cam of coiled-spring configuration, the combination of a coiled spring having spaced-apart hub members defining the respective endlimits of the coiled spring, at least one of the hub members being provided with means for attachment to a shaft or the like, at least one ofthe hub members being adjustably mov- 'able axially and also rotatably relative to the other hub member thereby to yary the developed cam surface of the coiled spring, the coiled spring being composed of' a material substantially fiat or;stripelikein-cross-section, cam pin members extending substantially transversely from each 26 may embody a plurality of coils, depending.

ated and .also upon the tensile properties of the material being used. mechanism of- Fig. 2 would be modified to allow more than the 270 degrees of revolution provided in; the latter figure. The ends of the material may besuitably'formed to provide the support pins 21 and 28, or these may be separate parts as numerals 3 and Mn Fig. 1. i

In considering its operation, the adjustable cam may be initially set, the latter setting being determined by, the limits of the rotating mechanismtowhich the cam unit is attached for operation. A finalsetting of the adjustable cam will be made as determined by the limits of the follower or roller mechanism which rides on the cam surf-ace. It should be understood that the apparatus to which the adjustable cam applies possesses a varying requirement for cam action. The adjustable cam provides a ready and convenient adjustment for the desired result.

In such cases the gear Obviously the structural details of this invention may vary quite substantially from that hub member, the said cam pin members connecting the respective ends of the coiled spring to the said hub members. a

" CORWIN W. BRYANT.

- REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Germany Apr. 2, 1931 

